AUGUSTA – Voter turnout in last month’s election was “considerably better than average,” topping 40 percent, according to Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap.

Dunlap announced Thursday that 408,819 ballots were cast in the Nov. 8 referendum election that featured seven ballot questions. The results were made official Monday when Gov. John Baldacci signed proclamations to that effect.

Based on Maine’s voting age population of 1,018,892, turnout was 40.12 percent. Since 1971, turnout for referendum elections in Maine has averaged just over 34 percent.

“The November election was conducted smoothly and voter participation was considerably better than average,” Dunlap said in a prepared statement Thursday. “The people of Maine, especially local election officials, deserve credit for taking our electoral process seriously.

“Credit also goes to staff members in Maine’s Division of Elections who process, review and tabulate election returns from more than 500 municipalities,” Dunlap added.

Because Question 1, the people’s veto, was not passed, the new law adding sexual orientation to the list of Maine human rights protecting people from discrimination in employment, housing, education, public accommodations and credit will take effect on Dec. 28.

The effective date for the bond issues that passed, Questions 2 through 5, is also Dec. 28, according to Dunlap. The constitutional amendment (Question 7) enabling waterfront property used for commercial fishing to be taxed at current use took effect when Baldacci signed the proclamation on Nov. 28.

Question 6, a bond issue worth $9 million for renovations at the state public colleges and universities, failed.